Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Paterson, NJ
VS
The Woodlands, TX
🏆 The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories
Paterson
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
The Woodlands
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$142,384 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
118,402
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($314,100 vs $456,400)
Rent averages $331/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,723)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails The Woodlands by $90,292/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than The Woodlands
The Woodlands, TX
Pros
Households earn $90,292 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Paterson
More college-educated — 66.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (5.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.4 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,400
Higher rents — median is $1,723/mo
Longer commutes — 28.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Paterson
Median Home Value
$142k less
$314,100 vs $456,400
The Woodlands
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
The Woodlands
Median Income
$90,292
$142,384 vs $52,092/yr
The Woodlands
Violent Crime
76% lower
235.4 vs 978.6 per 100k
The Woodlands
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 10.5% unemployment
The Woodlands
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Paterson, NJ | The Woodlands, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $456,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,723⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,092 | $142,384 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 17.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 258⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | A (128) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.6% | 66.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paterson Public School District | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4" ✓ Drier | 54.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,864 ✓ Larger | 118,402 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 40.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 26.3% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | 27.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Paterson's cost of living index is 112.5 vs The Woodlands's 100.2 (US average = 100).
The Woodlands is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, The Woodlands leads 17 of 23 categories. Paterson wins 6 and The Woodlands wins 17. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Paterson to The Woodlands or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,100 vs $456,400 median home), income ($52,092 vs $142,384), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Paterson, NJ and The Woodlands, TX are about 1,405 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.